View source for Ajmer Hyderabad Meenakshi Express

{{short description|Train in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2015}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width       = 
| name            = Jaipur –Hyderabad Meenakshi Express
| logo            = 
| logo_width      = 
| image           = 
| image_width     = 
| caption         = 
| type            = 
| status          = 
| locale          = India
| predecessor     = ''Meenakshi Express''
| first           = September 2010
| last            = 
| successor       = 
| operator        = [[Indian Railways]]
| formeroperator  = 
| ridership       = 
| ridership2      = 
| website         = 
| start           = 
| stops           = 
| end             = 
| distance        = {{convert|1708|km|abbr=on}}
| journeytime     = 30 hours
| frequency       = twice weekly
| trainnumber     = 12720 (from Hyderabad)<br />12719 (from Jaipur)
| line_used       = 
| class           = 
| access          = 
| seating         = 
| sleeping        = 
| autorack        = 
| catering        = 
| observation     = 
| entertainment   = 
| baggage         = 
| otherfacilities = 
| stock           = 
| gauge           = {{track gauge|1676mm}}
| el              = 
| speed           = 
| owners          = 
| routenumber     = 
| map             = [[File:(Hyderabad - Jaipur) Express (via Akola) Route map.png|250px|(Hyderabad - Jaipur) Express (via Akola) Route map]]
| map_state       = 
}}
'''[[Jaipur]]-[[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] Express''' is a train started by [[Indian Railways]] in September 2010. It connects Ajmer in Rajasthan with the capital of [[Telangana]]. It replaced a train called ''Meenakshi Express'' that used to run from [[Jaipur]] to [[Kacheguda]] near [[Secunderabad]] on [[metre gauge]] but was cancelled when the track was being converted to {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]].

==Nomenclature==
The train is unofficially called by the name of its earlier ''[[avatar]]'' ''Meenakshi Express''. At Hyderabad it is simply called Ajmer Express and at Ajmer it is simply called Hyderabad Express. An earlier train [[Nagarjuna Express]] that ran between [[Tenali]] and Secunderabad and was terminated in the middle of 2007 had the train numbers but ran on a completely different route.

==Schedule==
The train runs twice a week. Train number 12720 departs every Monday and Wednesday at 20.30 from Hyderabad (station code HYB) and at 20.55 from Secunderabad and reaches Ajmer (station code AII) after 30 hours at 03.25 on Wednesday and Friday respectively. In the return direction, train number 12719 departs Ajmer every Wednesday and Friday at 17.25 and reaches Secunderabad at 00.05 after about 30 hours. The distance is 1708&nbsp;km.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://indiarailinfo.com/train/2598| title=12720/Hyderabad - Ajmer Superfast Express| website=India Rail Info}}</ref>

==Route==
The train stops at [[Nizamabad, Andhra Pradesh|Nizamabad]], [[Mudkhed]], [[Hazur Sahib Nanded railway station|Nanded]], [[Purna]], [[Hingoli]], [[Washim]], [[Akola]], [[Akot]], [[Khandwa]], [[Itarsi]], [[Bhopal]], [[Ujjain]], [[Ratlam]], [[Neemuch]], [[Mandsaur]] and [[Chittorgarh]].

When the [[metre gauge]] track between Akola and Khandwa passing through [[Satpura]] mountains is converted to broad gauge, the distance will shorten and the time taken by the train will be reduced by over 3 hours. When the Khandwa-[[Indore]] section is also converted, the train may take the original route of Meenakshi Express.

==Rake composition==
The train has one AC 2 Tier, two AC 3 Tier, seven sleeper, six unreserved second and two luggage-cum-brake van coaches with no pantry car
but its run with LHB rake from 02.07.2017, now it have 1 ac 2 tier, 4 ac 3 tier, 10 sleeper class, 3 general unreserved coaches and 2 generator car cum luggage van

==Loco link==
The train is led by Twin WDM3A Alco turbo-charged locomotive from Secunderabad in both directions. The train reverses direction at Purna and Ratlam.

==History==
[[Nizam]] Guaranteed Railways started Meenakshi Express on the metre-gauge track to link the [[Hyderabad-Godavari Valley Railways]] and [[Malwa-Rajputhana]] Railways. The Khandwa–Akola metre gauge was opened in 1963. even then no direct service was between Ajmer and Hyderabad. In 1976 railway minister Shri Kamlapati Tripathi announce amalgamation of 69/70 Ajmer-Khandwa and 581/582 Khandwa-Kacheguda passenger. Then Ajmer-Kachiguda passenger was longest (1326&nbsp;km) passenger train in the country. The train used to run every day to Ajmer via Nizamabad, Nanded, Purna, Akola, Khandwa, [[Indore MG]], Ratlam, Neemuch, Mandsaur and Chittorgarh. In October 1977 railway minister Shri Madhu Dandvate started 69/70 bi-weekly Ajmer-kacheguda express<ref name="budget78">{{cite web |url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/finance_budget/Previous%20Budget%20Speeches/1978-79.pdf|date=21 February 1978|title= Railway Budget speech 1978-79|website=www.indianrailways.gov.in|publisher=[[Government of India]], [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Ministry of Railways]]}}</ref> later on Shri Madhavrao Scindia increase the frequency 2-5-7 and extended to Jaipur. This train was unofficially called Meenaxi express as it was proposed to extend to Madurai where famous MEENAXI temple is there, but it was never done and the train was discontinued in phase manner due to gauge conversion.

It was named [[Minakshi]] possibly because
# The [[Mahur, Maharashtra|Mahur]] [[Ekvira]] or [[Ekaveera]] Aayee, of [[Nanded]] district, which is the most adorable goddess of [[Marathi people]] and people living around Nizamabad and [[Adilabad]] districts, is also known [[Minakshi]] aayee.
# [[Mahakali]] goddess of [[Ujjain]], which is also adored as Minakshi. Though the train does not go to [[Ujjain]], it stops at [[Fatehabad, Madhya Pradesh|Fatehabad]] junction which is about 20&nbsp;km each from [[Ujjain]].

Many [[Muslims]] of Hyderabad travel by the train for [[ziyarat]] to the dargah of ''Gharīb Nawāz'' Khwaja [[Moinuddin Chisti]] [[Sharif]] in Ajmer. [[Pushkar]] is a [[Hindu]] sacred place near Ajmer.

Also there are many Hindus of Hyderabad who travels to [[Pushkar]], a sacred place for Hindus.

==Another train with similar name==
[[File:(Ajmer - Hyderabad) Express (via Manmad) Route map.jpg|thumb|(Ajmer - Hyderabad) Express (via Manmad) Route map]]
Hyderabad-Ajmer Express (train numbers 17019 and 17020) is another train that runs between Hyderabad and Ajmer once a week. From Purna it goes to Manmad and then Itarsi. Therefore, the distance is longer at 1869&nbsp;km and the time taken is 36 hours.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://indiarailinfo.com/train/18489| title=17020/Hyderabad - Ajmer Weekly Express| website=India Rail Info}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite press release| url=http://www.scrailway.gov.in/scr/web/press/index.jsp?id=524| author=South Central Railway| title=(untitled)}}{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{dead link|date=January 2016}}<!-- snapshots in archive.org are all 404 messages -->

{{Railways in Northern India}}
{{Railways in Southern India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ajmer - Hyderabad Meenakshi Express}}
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 2010]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Telangana]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1988]]
[[Category:Express trains in India]]
[[Category:Transport in Ajmer]]
[[Category:Transport in Hyderabad, India]]